Apparatus for fabricating non-woven multistrand fabrics



Jan. 5, 1965 N. L. OLKEN 3,164,509

APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING NON-WOVEN MULTISTRAND FABRICS Filed May 31, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY M N. L. OLKEN Jan. 5, 1965 APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING NON-WOVEN MULTISTRAND FABRICS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 51, 1960 INVENTOR. Mll z. OZAf/V AfTOEA/EVS Jan. 5, 1965 N. L. OLKEN 3,164,509

APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING NON-WOVEN MULTISTRAND FABRICS Filed May 31, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. lVE/L L. OZKE/V ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1965 N. L. OLKEN 3,164,509

APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING NON-WOVEN MULTISTRAND FABRICS Filed May 31, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY 0M1 ATTOENEYS N. L. OLKEN 3,164,509

APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING NON-WOVEN MULTISTRAND FABRICS Jan. 5, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 51, 1960 INVENTOR. lVf/L L. OLKf/V aisases Patented Jan. 5, 1965 United States Paten Ofifi e APPARATUS FOR FBRICATDTG NON-WQVEN MULTISSTRAND FABRICS I Neil L; Olkeri, 76 Robbins Road, WatertoWn, Mass. Filed May 31,- 1960, Sen No. 33,002 '11 Claims; (Cl;- 156-426) The present invention rel-ates to methods of and apparatus for fabricating non-woven miilti-strand fabrics.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 519,450, filed July 1, 1955, for Fabric and Method of and Apparatus for Producing the Same, now Patent 3,000,432, dated Septernber 19, 1961, there is described a new and improved method of and apparatus for manufacturingnon-woven I fabric that insures the crossing and lamination-f fabric strands at acute angles with substantial precision and uniformity. While the machine described in my said applithe problem of providing non-woven substantially orthogonally crossing strands by meansof Wrap-around apthe cutter apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is an isometric View of an alternate apparatus for cutting and winding the fabric in accordance with the concepts of the presentinvention; and

FIG.- 5 is a top' elevation of the'apparatus of FIG. 1.-

Refer'ring to FIG; 1, a plurality of spools or cones of yarn or other strand material 1 such as, for example, fiberglass, cotton or the like, is shown mounted upon a rotatable annular platform or table 2 in the lower sec tion I of the machine. The yarn 1 is fed through guides 3, more clearly shown in FIG. 2, supported by arms 4 that are carried by the platform or table 2, and through a corresponding plurality of aperturesS in a cylindrical reed member 6, also carried by the platform 2 and rotatable therewith. The resulting cylindric al array of strands continues about four continuous pick-up belts 7, 7', 7", and 7" FIG. 1A, disposed in the four corners of a square within the cylindrical guide 6, the endless belts being driven from respective drive wheels 17, 17, 17", 17"T,

disposed below the table 2, over respectivepulleys 117,

extending from the periphery of the reed 6 upward about paratus involving winding'threads about a'continuo lsly forward moving member, this construction inherently permits of only an approximation to orthogonality, but not a true 9 0-crossing. In accordance with the present invention, on theother hand, true orthogonality is attained. In summary, this is achieved with the aid of a pair of preferably coaxial means for rotatingin opposite directions a pair of coaxial substantially cylindrical arrays of strands laterally displaced along their axis. At least three pick-up means are provided extending and moving along the said axis and disposed at predetermined points within each cylindrical array, the first and second arrays being respectively rotated about the pick-up means to form therealong, respectively a firsttubular polygoniccross-section array of strands extending along the sai d axis and a second similar tubular array of strandscrossing the first polygonic-cross-section array of strandsipreferably at a 90 angle. The crossed tubular arrays are secured together to form a tubular fabric, from which fiat sheets are cut. i i

A further object of the invention is .to provide anew and improved fabric-manufacturing machine of vmore general utility, also. i i i it Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter and will be more particularlypointed outin connec tion Wiih the appended claims.

The invention Will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, FIGjl of which .is a side elevation of a' machine constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 7 FIG 1A is a transverse section taken along the line l-A, l-A, of FIG. 1, looking in the'direction of the arrows;

FIG. 1B is a similar view taken along the line 1-B, l-B of FIG. 1, also looking in the directionof the arrows;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed side elevation of the lower portion of the machine of FIGS. 1 and 1A, upon an enlarged scale, showing the driving mechanism therefor;

FIG. 3 is a View similar .to FIG. .2 of the -r niddle and uppersections of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 1B;

adjacent belts, as more particularly shown at 3', FIG.

1A. A first polygonic-cross-section (square, in this case) tubular array of strands is thus formed. The strands 3 pass upward under coating rollers 27, 27' etc., FIG. 3, disposed in the regions between the successive belts 7, 7 etc, for the purpose of applying adhesive to the strands, as later explained.

The coated strands continue up through a second annular platform 2', coaxially mounted with respect to the platform 2, in the central region II of the machine. As later explained, the platform 2' is rotated in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the platform 2, but ina plane substantially parallel to that of the platform 2. Connected to the platform 2' is a further cylindrical guide 6', corresponding to the before-described guide 6, and having apertures 5' that receive strands from a further set of spools or cones 1' mounted upon the platform 2' and that, because of the reverse direction of rotation of .the platfrom 2, lays a further array of strands 3" FIGS. 1, 1B and 3, at an angle of degrees to the direction of the strands 3. The cylindrical array of strands 3" is formed into portions of frusto-coriical sections, FIG. 13, that are caused to crosslthe coated strands 3, also moving upward as a substantially square-sided tubular column. Heating may be applied, as indicated by the wavy lines at II, to aid in the securing of the strands 3 to the orthogonally layed strands 3" wound thereabout; thereby to produce at 30, FIGS. 1 and 3, a square cross-section tubular column of fabric constituted of the crossed'arrays of strands 3' and 3", adhered together. This tubular fabric at 30 then passes through still a third coaxial rotating platform or table 2", disposed substantially parallel to the platforms 2 and 2, and rotatable in the same direction as the platform 2'. The platform 2" peripherally inwardly carries cutter blades C, more particularly shown in FIG. 3A, preferably oriented to cut the fabric along one of the lines of the strands; the cutter C being shown oriented in a plane parallel to the direction of the strands 3. Laminar sheets of-fabric comprising orthogonally crossed parallel strands may then be received at S and S by wind-up rolls 10 and 11 supported by inclined elevated arms 12 extending inwardly from the platform 2".

' Turning, now, to the mechanical details of the illus trated apparatus, the pick-up belt driving members 17,

17', 17" and 17" are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 driven a from a common motor M, supported near thebase of the frame V, through the medium of a shaft 14 and bevel drive gears 15, so that all belts 7, 7', 7'', 77 move upward at the same rate. An extension 14' of the shaft 14 drives bevel gears '16 to rotate a vertical shaft 18 that, in turn, through bevel gears 19, powers a further horizontal shaft 18, FIGS. 1 and 3. The shaft 18 drives cooperative bevel gears 19' and 19" to turn gear 20, FIG. 3, at the end of the coating rollers 27'. Each of the other coating rollers 27, 27", etc., is also provided with end gears 24 that engage the end gears 20 of adjacent coating rollers and thus enable rotation as the roller 27' rotates. Reservoirs 37, etc., containing coating adhesive fluid, are associated with each of the coating rollers 27, etc., in order to provide a flow of the adhesion fluid.

A second motor M carried by the frameV drives a horizontal gear 23 to engage teeth 24 peripherally disposed about the annular platform 2. The platform 2, in' turn,is rotatably mounted by peripheral bearings R upon a fixed annular table 22 supported between the vertical members of the frame structure. V.

In order to drive the next upper or second platform 2, similarly mounted upon a concentric fixed annular table 22', FIGS. 1 and 3, in the opposite direction to, but synchronously with, the rotation of the table 2, a

' vertical shaft 28 is carried upward from motor M to drive a horizontal gear 26, FIG. 1B, that, through idler gear 31 causes a further meshed gear 32 to engage the peripheral teeth 33 of the second platform 2', FIGS. 1B and 3.

Above the platform 2, the annular cutter platform 2", similarly rotatably mounted upon the fixed annular table 22, is driven by a vertical shaft extending at 34 from the gear 32, FIGS. 1 and 3, and rotating an upper horizonal gear 35 that engages a peripheral toothed ring 36 carried by the cutter ring 2". In this manner, the cutter ring 2" moves in the same direction synchronously with the table or platform 2', rotating the inwardly radially extending cutters C. The details of the cutters C are more clearly evident from FIG. 3A, each cutter wheel C being mounted upon a sliding shaft 40 constrained to move radially within a bearing 41 secured to the rotating cutter ring 2", and resiliently urged outward by means of a spring Sp. The cutter C in FIG. 3A is shown oriented along a plane corresponding to V the direction of the strands 3', thereby to effect the cutting of the fabric as it rotates around the belts 7, 7',

ness of those rolls resulting from the winding-up of more and more of the fabric thereupon, the motor M" is shown driving a roller 43, FIG. 3, that, in turn, drives a tensioning belt 44 over itself and a further cooperative roller 45, resiliently supported therefrom by a resilient link 46. The tensioning belt 44, in response to the resilient action of the linkage 46, will thus accommodate itself as the rolls re and 11 vary in. diameter as fabric is added thereto, thereby providing for substantially the same speed of take-up of the rolls 1t} and 11 irrespective of the amount of fabric deposited thereupon.

A central column 50, FIGS. 1A, 1B and 5, preferably extends centrally upward to support four radial arms 57, at periodic intervals. The arms 57 are directed to urge slotted terminal feet 52 to receive the belts 7,7, 7", 7" in order to maintain the belts flat and from being drawn inward by the tension of the yarn.

The invention is not limited, however, to the production of parallel-strand perpendicularly crossing fabrics, but it may be employed, also, to produce fabrics with the strands crossing at any other desired angle. Thus, in the modification of FIG. 4, the third annular platform 2' operates just as before, but the crossed fabric 30 engages fixed peripheral cutter blades C that slit the fabric parallel to the direction of travel of the belts '7, 7', 7" and 7". The resulting sheets of fabric wound upon horizontally oriented front and rear rolls Ill and 11 will thus have their strands crossing at an acute angle.

While, moreover, four belts have been described as preferred, three belts or more than four belts may, of course, be employed, in which event polygonic-shaped arrays of strands other than of square configuration will be produced. Other pick-up devices than belts, including those described in my said co-pending application, may also be employed. Though the apparatus is illustrated as vertically arranged, furthermore, horizontal or other alinement may also be employed. Further modifications will also suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and all such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the character described having, in combination, first and second means for rotating in op posite directions respective first and second substantially cylindrical arrays of strands disposed upon the said means, the arrays of strands being laterally displaced along a predetermined direction along the axis of rotation of the said means, a plurality of at least three con-- tinuous conveyor pick-up means extending and moving substantially along the said direction and disposed at predetermined points within each cylindrical array, the first and second arrays rotating about the pick-up means to form therealong, respectively, a first tubular polygoniccross-section array of strands extending along the said direction and a second co-extensive tubular polygoniccross-section array of strands crossing the first tubular array at an angle, and means for securing the tubular arrays together to form a tubular polygonic-cross-section fabric.

2. Apparatus of the character described having, in combination, first and second means for rotating in opposite directions respective first and second substantially cylindrical arrays of strands disposed upon the said means, the arrays of strands being laterally displaced along a predetermined direction along the axis of rotation of the said means, a plurality of at least three continuous conveyor pick-up means extending and, moving substantially along the said direction and disposed at predetermined points within each cylindrical array, the first and second arrays rotating about the pick-up means to form therealong, respectively, a first tubular polygoniccross-section array of strands extending along the said direction and a second co-extensive tubular polygoniccross-section array of strands crossing the first tubular array at an angle, means for securing the tubular arrays together to form a tubular polygonic-cross-section fabric, and means for cutting the polygonic-cross-section fabric as it is carried along the said direction by the pick-up means to form fabric sheets of crossed strands.

3. Apparatus of the character described having, in combination, first and second coaxial means for rotating in opposite directions respective first and second coaxial substantially cylindrical arrays of strands disposed upon the said means, the arrays of strands being laterally dis: placed along their longitudinal axis, aplurality of at least three continuous conveyor pick-up means extending and moving substantially parallel to the said axis and disposed at predetermined points within each cylindrical array, the first and second coaxial means rotating about the pick-up means to form therealong, respectively, a first tubular polygonic-cross-section array of strands ex tending substantially parallel to the said axis and a second.

co-extensive tubular polygonic-cross-section array of strands crossing the first tubular array at an angle, and means for securing the tubular arrays together to form a tubular polygonic-cross-section fabric.

4. Apparatus of the character described having, in combination, first and second annular means for rotating in opposite directions respective first and second substantially cylindrical arrays of strands disposed upon the said means, the arrays of strands being laterally displaced along a predetermined direction along the axis of rotation of the said means, a plurality of at least three continuous conveyor pick-up means extending and moving substantially along the said direction and disposedat predetermined points within each cylindrical array, the first and second arrays rotating about the pick-up means to form therealong, respectively, a first tubular polygoniccross-section array of strands extending along the said direction and a second co-extensive tubular polygoniccross-section array of strands crossing the first tubular array at an angle of substantially ninety degrees, means for securing the tubular arrays together to form a tubular polygonic-cross-section fabric, and means for cutting the polygonic-cross-section fabric along the direction of the strands of one of the crossed array of strands to form fabric sheets of substantially orthogonally crossed strands.

5. Apparatus of the character described having, in combination, first and second coaxial means for rotating in opposite directions respective first and second coaxial substantially cylindrical arrays of strands disposed upon the said means, the arrays of strands being laterally displaced along their longitudinal axis, a plurality of at least three continuous conveyor pick-up means extending and moving substantially parallel to the said axis and disposed at predetermined points within each cylindrical array, the first and second coaxial means rotating about the pick-up means to form therealong, respectively, a

first tubular polygonic-cross-section array of strands 6X-,

tending substantially parallel to the said axis and a second co-extensive tubular polygonic-cross-section array of strands crossing the first tubular array at an angle, means for securing the tubular arrays together to form a tubular polygonic-cross-section fabric, and means for cutting the polygonic-cross-section fabric as it is carried along the said direction by the pick-up means to form fabric sheets of crossed strands.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the said cutting means comprises an annular platform carrying the cutter and in which means is provided for rotating the said annular platform synchronously with the said first and second rotating means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which means is provided for receiving and winding up the said out fabric sheets and in which the receiving-and-winding means inclines to the said axis.

8; Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 and in which means is provided for maintaining substantially uniform speed in the receiving-and-Winding means irrespective of the quantity of received and wound fabric thereupon.

9; Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and in which means is provided at a region between the said first and second cylindrical arrays of strands for coating the strands of the first tubular array with an adhesive.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and in which means is provided in the region between the pick-up means for maintaining the pick-up means against deformation.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 and in which the cutting means comprises a resiliently mounted cutter disposed to engage the tubular fabric, the said cutter being resiliently inwardly directed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hirschy July 1, 

1. APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED HAVING, IN COMBINATION, FIRST AND SECOND MEANS FOR ROTATING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS RESPECTIVE FIRST AND SECOND SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL ARRAYS OF STRANDS DISPOSED UPON THE SAID MEANS, THE ARRAYS OF STRANDS BEING LATERALLY DISPLACED ALONG A PREDETERMINED DIRECTION ALONG THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE SAID MEANS, A PLURALITY OF AT LEAST THREE CONTINUOUS CONVEYOR PICK-UP MEANS EXTENDING AND MOVING SUBSTANTIALLY ALONG THE SAID DIRECTION AND DISPOSED AT PREDETERMINED POINTS WITHIN EACH CYLINDRICAL ARRAY, THE FIRST AND SECOND ARRAYS ROTATING ABOUT THE PICK-UP MEANS TO FORM THEREALONG, RESPECTIVELY, A FIRST TUBULAR POLYGONICCROSS-SECTION ARRAY OF STRANDS EXTENDING ALONG THE SAID DIRECTION AND A SECOND CO-EXTENSIVE TUBULAR POLYGONICCROSS-SECTION ARRAY OF STRANDS CROSSING THE FIRST TUBULAR ARRAY AT AN ANGLE, AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE TUBULAR 